Untitled [seated female model without a top and wearing a skirt] 1955 - 1967

Richard Diebenkorn made this untitled charcoal drawing of a seated female model on paper. Look at how the lines dance and meander, thick in some places, fading in others. It’s like he's letting the charcoal lead the way, feeling the form rather than dictating it. The drawing captures a moment of quiet introspection. The texture of the charcoal on paper gives it a raw, immediate feel. Notice the looping line that defines the model’s thigh. It's not just a boundary; it's a gesture, a record of Diebenkorn's hand moving across the page. The marks around the chair feel similarly provisional and searching. This piece reminds me of Matisse's line drawings—the same sense of capturing essence with minimal means. But where Matisse is all confidence and flourish, Diebenkorn feels more tentative, more human, grappling with the challenge of seeing and representing. And that's what makes it so compelling.